TM

TunnelBear

A mockup for a Macbook placed on a table for a website

Helping people enjoy a more open internet —safely and securely

Helping people enjoy a more open internet —safely and securely

TunnelBear was a joyful, unexpected start to my design career. I redesigned the product across platforms, built a design system from the ground up, and helped lead a full brand and website refresh—all while drawing bears (lots of bears… and fish… and sometimes people too), animating delightful moments, and turning complex concepts into lovable experiences for 25+ million users.

TunnelBear was a joyful, unexpected start to my design career. I redesigned the product across platforms, built a design system from the ground up, and helped lead a full brand and website refresh—all while drawing bears (lots of bears… and fish… and sometimes people too), animating delightful moments, and turning complex concepts into lovable experiences for 25+ million users.

My Role:

Product Designer

My Role:

Product Designer

My Scope:

UX, UI & visual design, design system, illustration, & motion

My Scope:

UX, UI & visual design, design system, illustration, & motion

4 screenshots of the tunnelbear iOS app

Working at TunnelBear fresh out of university, I discovered my love for product strategy, and systems thinking. I also pitched myself into the first product design role at the company, and began shaping the approach I use in my practice today — what I like to call purposeful play.

Animation of a bear typing on a help page
Animation of a bear typing on a help page
Animation of a bear typing on a help page
4 screenshots of the tunnelbear account page
4 screenshots of the tunnelbear account page
4 screenshots of the tunnelbear account page

To me, purposeful play means:


01

Designing the unexpected - adding surprise where you’d expect the ordinary


02

Designing the remarkable - making things memorable


03

Designing the simple – making the right decision obvious


04

Designing the affirming - rewarding good behaviour



Designing at TunnelBear taught me how to balance delight with responsibility, and how strong visual systems can make even the most technical products feel human.